Isolated from the pulsating sounds of pachinko parlors and the neon lights of Tokyo, the small, laid-back city of Takayama in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture offers something that visitors to Japan's urban hubs don't typically find: quiet.
Caught in the bustle of the modern world, we often forget the impact that nature's stillness can have on us — and that's what makes a visit to Takayama so worthwhile. No, it's not Mount Koya, the Buddhist retreat near Kyoto, but Takayama — a short weekend trip away from Tokyo — is an ideal destination for visitors wanting to experience the calm that comes from zazen (traditional seated meditation). Originating in India and arriving in Japan from China in the seventh century, zazen is still practiced in temples across Japan today.
There are a number of notable temples in Takayama, including the Unryuuji ("Cloud Dragon") Temple and the renowned Hokkeji Temple, where devotees come to wash parts of a stone Buddha in the hope of healing ailments in the corresponding part of their own body. But only one place of worship accepts visitors for meditation: Zennoji.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.